Windows 10: Change HDD

It's likely MBR partitioned. I think MiniTool Partition Wizard will convert data drives to GPT for free without data loss..

MBR partitioning is limited to 2 TB. What @KevinUK initially saw was the original size data partition, D: drive, then unallocated space up to the 2 TB limit, then the inaccessible unallocated space after that, which he called "3 partitions". Then he extended the D: drive partition to the 2 TB limit which is where we are at now.

And I just confirmed that MiniTool Partition Wizard (Free) will convert a data drive from MBR to GPT:




Then you can also use MiniTool Partition Wizard to finish extending the D: drive into the empty space.

 

NavyLCDR & ignatzatsonic

Thanks for your responses. I will look into the "MiniTool Partition Wizard" in the morning. I thought that simply imaging the old drive and restoring to the new drive would be easy?

With reference to my original post, I have a SSD installed as C drive which contains the operating system and D drive is where documents, pictures etc are and the location was changed from the windows default path of C by changing the target. If I formatted the new 6tb drive could the original D drive be copied and pasted?? or would this be an issue.

Kevin

 

It would have been easier had your original HDD been GPT. Using a large disk like that means you need to use GPT to use the 6Tb.

E.g.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2581408/windows-support-for-hard-disks-that-are-larger-than-2-tb
How To Solve MBR Disk 2TB Partition Limit in Windows 8/8.1/7/Vista?

 

If you reformat the 6TB using GPT, create the huge partition, format it as NTFS - it would be better just to copy the old D: drive partition over the top of the new, empty partition. It won't be a problem copying and pasting the files and folders, but I think copying the partition itself would be better.

However, you already have the D: drive set up on the new drive. All you need to do is convert the drive to GPT and extend the D: drive partition to the end. Less than 5 minutes with MiniTool Partition Wizard.

 

Thanks for your help NavyLCDR the drive has been converted to GPT and extended using your recommendation for the MiniTool Partition Wizard.

Also a thanks to the rest of you guys.

Kevin